Description

Most conservatories fall under Permitted Development rights in the UK, meaning you don’t need a full planning application, provided you meet all the specific limits and conditions.

Here are the key guidelines for conservatories to qualify as permitted development in England:

• Total Coverage: The conservatory and other buildings/extensions must not cover more than 50% of the total area of land around the “original house.” (The “original house” is the house as it was first built, or as it stood on 1st July 1948).
• Detached House: Must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 4 metres.
• Semi-detached or Terraced House: Must not extend beyond the rear wall of the original house by more than 3 metres
• Maximum Height: The conservatory must be a single storey.
• Overall Roof Height: The highest part of the conservatory roof must not be higher than the highest part of the roof of the existing house.
• The eaves of the conservatory must not be higher than the eaves of the existing house.
• If the conservatory is within 2 metres of a boundary, the maximum eaves height is restricted to 3 metres.
• The overall maximum height of a single-storey rear extension is 4 metres.
• Frontage: A conservatory must not be built forward of the principal elevation (the front of the house) or the side elevation that fronts a highway.
• Side Conservatories: Must be single storey with a maximum height of 4 metres. Must not have a width greater than half the width of the original house.
• Other Features: The extension must not include any verandas, balconies, or raised platforms.
• Building Regulations: Even if you don’t need planning permission, you may still need to comply with Building Regulations. Conservatories are generally exempt if they meet certain criteria (e.g., separated from the house by external walls/doors, less than 30 square metres floor area, and have independent heating).